"Normal" is a Good Thing

I have never been one to need excitement or added drama to be happy. I am not the type of person that thrives on change or big adventures, I am a true "home-body".

After having the entire family sick for over a week, and still recovering, I realize how we take normal for granted. I am thankful today to be feeling well enough to think about washing clothes and dishes, changing diapers, giving baths, and wiping counters and cleaning spills:) There are giggles and squeals again, though mixed with coughs and sneezes here and there. Normal is good.

While changing the youngest this morning I was even thankful to have my sense of smell back, well sort of!

We Got a Lot for Christmas, Including the Flu

The flu started just a couple of days before Christmas and by the day after Christmas we were all achy, chilly, and coughing. Besides the obvious misery and bad timing with our baby due in one week, what really stood out the most was God's grace and mercy during a rough day.

It all started with a phone call from a friend at church. Within a few hours we had two dinners delivered to our door step and scores of folks praying for us in our church family.

Later in the evening, we had many groceries delivered to our door step from my cousin and her daughter. They drove forty five minutes from out of town to deliver us all our favorites. Thank you Mom for passing on our needs to them. God is so good and shows us through others how He is always there. Praise God for family, church family and natural family.

Merry Christmas!

...And lo the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in a city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:9-14

This Week's Deals

We had another fun shopping week at CVS. The items in the top picture are from one of two trips we made to CVS this week. We went back a second time to take advantage of the great baby soap and battery coupons Crystal shared with us at http://www.moneysavingmom.com/. Today, Dec. 23 is the last day to take advantage of those coupons! To not risk being too repetitive for those coming from Super Saving Saturday, I will just give totals:

Total of items purchased $64.24(not including our second trip for the week:)

Total out of pocket $1.00

Total Extra Care Bucks left $19.50

The second photo is of wipes purchased at Target for only $1.14 out of pocket. Thanks to Tommy and the kids for getting this deal while out Christmas shopping! They used this coupon http://www.huggieshappybaby.com/offers/target/BannerCoupon.aspx. , which is good thru 1/10/08. I hope to take advantage of this one again before it expires. Stocking up for baby due in just a few days has been fun.

Just Some Random Cuteness...

Wendy being proud of her pig tails!
Wendy posing with her snack, made by "big sister Abby". Scrambled eggs with raisins for fish face.
Lily Bug with a big GRIN!

Kitchen Tip Tuesday-Icey Morning Treat

I woke up Sunday morning, a very cold and icey Sunday morning, wanting to bake something yummy. Hardee's cinnamon raisin biscuits came to mind. Since we weren't going out in the bad weather, we decided to make some instead! This is not an exact recipe, just something I threw together. Biscuits are really easy to make:)

4 cups of self rising flour

1/2 cup of sugar

3 tsp cinnamon

1 stick of butter or margerine

couple handfuls of raisins, add as many as you like

2 cups or so of milk or buttermilk

Blend dry ingredients. Cut in butter with two knives or a pastry blender. Add milk or buttermilk, enough to form a soft dough, make sure your dough is not too dry(this makes dry biscuits) you can always add a little flour when kneading to get the right consistency. Dump dough onto generously floured surface and knead just enough to form a nice ball of dough. Flatten dough with your hands (the more gentle you are with the dough the fluffier your biscuits will be:) Cut biscuits, place on pan, brush with melted butter, bake at 400 for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned on top.

While they are baking mix a simple icing...

1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar

2 tblsp. or so milk

couple drops of vanilla

Mix this with a fork and spread on biscuits after cooling them for 5-10 minutes.


Some of us enjoyed our biscuits with orange juice and hot chocolate. For me, I enjoyed a cup of Millstone Holiday Peppermint coffee with half-and-half. Yum! Get more great kitchen tips at http://tammysrecipes.com/taxonomy/term/53

Menu Plan Monday

My first Menu Plan Monday. I am so excited to participate after following so many others for a while!

When I plan our menu, we do usually end eating all that is listed, however it is a "loose plan" depending on our schedule and what sounds good to us on that particular day. I love having a plan to refer to. I have just recently started writing the "plan" on a dry erase board in the kitchen. Everyone likes to give their opinion on what's for dinner and my disorganized mind loves the visual reminder:)

Monday...Baked whole chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas

Tuesday...cheesy potato soup, turkey bacon, cornbread

Wednesday...crockpot mac-n-cheese, meatballs with chili sauce, biscuits

Thursday...Spagetti with choice of red sauce or white sauce, salad, cheese breadstix

I only planned through Thursday so I can plan and shop for Christmas weekend with our vistit with my Mom and Dad, Lord willing:)

Check out more menus at http://orgjunkie.com/menu-plan-monday

Welcome

I was so eager to post about CVS, I did not take time to welcome family, friends, and visitors. It is exciting to have a "spot" to share in our everyday happenings. I look forward to sharing pictures, stories about the kids, what the Lord is teaching us, our adventures, recipes here and there, and all the things we are excited about and learning.
This is definitely a learning experience for me, as I am techno. challenged. My family knows this already:)
So drop in and see what's new!
Monica

This Week At CVS

I should have named this post, "I robbed CVS this week:)". All kidding aside, we had a very successful week of shopping. I say we because I had help. Not only from Crystal at Money Saving Mom, but from my daughter Abigail and my husband Tommy who came along on the two seperate trips we made...



First trip with Abigail (items not pictured)

First transaction:



1 scott 12 pack 6.49, .75 mc

1 CVS facial tissues .99, Free with CVS coupon

2 Johnson and Johnson baby soap 1.59 ea., $2/1 CVS coupon for each

1 playtex nurser kit, 5.19

2 trident 8 packs, B1G0 CVS coupon

3 Christmas stocking craft kits 1.oo ea.



Also used

$3 off $15 coupon from previous receipt

$2 off $10 printable

$8.97 extra care bucks from previous transaction



Total out of pocket...$1.38



Trasaction #2

2 bags of Hershey's kisses 2/$5, $1.50mc

2 bottle Robitussin cough syrup $4.99 ea., $3 CVS coupon for ea. and .50 manuf. coup. for ea.

1 Tums smoothies, $5.79, $2 off CVS coupon, and $1 off mc

1 gallon of Pet milk $4.29



Also used:

$3 off $15 from previous transaction

$4 off $20 CVS printable

There are a couple of coupons also that were in the mix that I don't recall



Total out of pocket...$1.56

Total ECB's (Extra Cart Bucks) earned...$9.00



Second trip with Tommy Pictured Above:

1 CVS faicial tissues .99, free with CVS coupon

1 Johnson and Johnson Baby wash $4.29, $2 CVS printable

1 Energizer battery 4 pack $5.69, $5 CVS printable, $2 mc (peeled right off the pack in store)

1 Glade Jar Candle (apple cinnamon, my fav.) $2.99, $1 off mc



Also used

$2 off $10



Total out of pocket....$1.00, I paid with a $25 gift card earned for filling a new prescription there this week!



Tommy's deals:

1 CVS facial tissues, free with CVS printable

1 Huggies natural care baby soap $3.49, $1 mc

1 Huggies natural care wash cloths $3.49, $1.50 mc

1 Energizer battery 4 pack, $5.00 off CVS printable, $2 off peely on the pack again

1 J&J baby bar $1.59, $2 off CVS printable

1 item for a gift we cannot disclose .79 :)

1 coke 2L .99

2 bags Doritos $3.49 on sale B1G1 ( Coke and chips were suprise treats for the kids, which they appreciated)



Also used

$4 off $20

$2 off $10



Total out of pocket, $2.41 off the gift card

Total ECB's earned on both transactions...$6

Total ECB' to spend since starting...$36



Grand total savings....$94.63